diff --git a/server/core/config.c b/server/core/config.c
index 55ed42a25..d61200adb 100644
--- a/server/core/config.c
+++ b/server/core/config.c
@@ -230,13 +230,6 @@ int			error_count = 0;
 
 				char *version_string = config_get_value(obj->parameters, "version_string");
 
-				if (version_string) {
-					((SERVICE *)(obj->element))->version_string = strdup(version_string);
-				} else {
-					if (gateway.version_string)
-						((SERVICE *)(obj->element))->version_string = strdup(gateway.version_string);
-				}
-
                                 if (obj->element == NULL) /*< if module load failed */
                                 {
                                         LOGIF(LE, (skygw_log_write_flush(
@@ -249,6 +242,14 @@ int			error_count = 0;
                                         obj = obj->next;
                                         continue; /*< process next obj */
                                 }
+                                
+                                if (version_string) {
+					((SERVICE *)(obj->element))->version_string = strdup(version_string);
+				} else {
+					if (gateway.version_string)
+						((SERVICE *)(obj->element))->version_string = strdup(gateway.version_string);
+				}
+
                                 max_slave_conn_str = 
                                         config_get_value(obj->parameters, 
                                                          "max_slave_connections");